Stafford Healthcare - Sea Tac in Des Moines, WA

Pros

• The staff seemed kind, and the facility was nice.
• The care team provided exceptional care with attention, compassion, and professionalism.
• Kim went above and beyond by ensuring a comfortable room was ready prior to arrival.
• Puget Sound Transitional Care is compassionate, attentive, and comprehensive in supporting residents and their families.
• The facility is an awesome place with a renewed emphasis on quality of care under new management.
• Cleanliness and maintenance have dramatically improved, making the space feel more homelike.
• The therapies and activities programs promote holistic wellness and progress.
• The open-door policy fosters a sense of community and reassurance for families.
• The nursing staff truly cares about the residents and provides good care.
• The food is good and residents are well fed; the staff are skilled, especially in using the Hoyer lift.

Cons

• They would not recommend Puget Sound Transitional Care.
• They warned others to avoid the facility at all costs and not trust reviews by employees.
• They described the facility as a horrible place with poor cleaning, safety concerns, and sores after falls.
• They claimed residents were left on the floor for hours after a fall and not checked after surgeries.
• They stated call buttons were often unanswered for long periods, with staff slow to respond.
• They criticized management for mistreating employees, high turnover, and low morale.
• They alleged unsafe, outdated facilities, including unsafe beds and even contaminated water with loud, disruptive noise.

Review

Stafford Healthcare - SeaTac is best suited for families seeking a warm, home-like skilled-nursing environment where staff can feel personal and attentive, and where rehab and ongoing care are available on a practical, day-to-day basis. This community tends to work best for residents who value kindness from frontline caregivers and who can tolerate variability in consistency and infrastructure. In short, it lands in the middle of the quality spectrum: enough genuine compassion to matter, but enough operational rough edges to demand strong family oversight and clear expectations about daily routines, safety, and responsiveness.

Those who should seriously consider alternatives are families prioritizing reliability over warmth. The most persistent red flags in reviews point to slow call-light responses, inconsistent staffing levels, and safety concerns such as unsafe equipment and rooms that feel dated. Shared bathrooms and noisy environments compound resident discomfort, and several accounts describe lapses in basic cleanliness and medication handling. For seniors with complex medical needs, especially those requiring tightly coordinated care or rapid, predictable problem-solving, a more stable and modern setting may be a better fit.

On the positive side, the strongest earning points center on staff who are genuinely kind and dedicated, plus tangible rehab and therapy engagement in many reports. When caregivers are present and attentive, residents frequently describe meaningful progress in physical therapy, good meals, and a sense of being treated with dignity. The facility's atmosphere can feel more homelike than sterile, and there are anecdotes of dedicated teams who push for better outcomes, particularly in rehab pathways. These pros matter a great deal when the goal is recovery or stabilization, but they must be weighed against ongoing operational weaknesses.

The main cons - irregular staffing, slow response times, safety and cleanliness concerns, and allegations of management-related instability - do not disappear in lighter weeks. They tend to erode trust and disrupt daily life, making even well-intentioned care harder to rely on. When management turnover accelerates, the cultural shift that once raised morale can collapse again, leaving patients and families with a moving target for expectations. In practical terms, this means the care experience can swing from reassuring to frustrating, depending on when the last staffing or leadership change occurred.

For families weighing choices, Puget Sound Transitional Care frequently appears as a more consistently praised alternative for rehab and transition needs, with reports of coordinated therapy, compassionate staff, and a supportive environment. If a short-term, highly structured rehabilitation stay with steady leadership and clearer accountability is the priority, exploring options like that model may yield a more predictable experience. Stafford can still serve as a viable option for those who value a welcoming, person-centered approach and can actively monitor care plans, but the gap between aspiration and day-to-day performance underscores the need for proactive oversight and a thorough, up-close tour.

A disciplined decision plan helps move from impression to confidence. During visits, demand to see current staffing levels on each shift, observe call-light response in common areas, and note how quickly staff address basic needs. Inspect room configurations, the state of cleanliness, and the condition of equipment and bathrooms. Ask for a detailed patient-care plan, including medication administration routines, therapy schedules, and daily activity options. Speak with current residents and family members about consistency, communication, and responsiveness. If the answers leave room for hesitation, it is prudent to widen the search and compare with similarly situated communities that deliver a higher bar for reliability and safety.

This part of Des Moines, Washington offers a range of amenities and services that cater to senior living needs. There are several pharmacies nearby such as Bartell Drugs, Walgreens, and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to medication and healthcare supplies. Parks like Earthworks Park and Saltwater State Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. In terms of dining options, there are various restaurants including Auntie Irene's Coffee Shop, Denny's, and Sharps Roasthouse offering diverse culinary experiences. Public transportation is easily accessible with Angle Lake Station and International Arrivals Facility nearby for convenient travel. Additionally, there are cafes like Floret and Starbucks for socializing with friends or enjoying a quiet cup of coffee. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians like Kosnoski Eye Care and Valley Medical Center in close proximity. St Francis Hospital is also located within a reasonable distance for any emergency healthcare needs. Overall, this part of Des Moines offers a comfortable and convenient environment for seniors looking to settle down in the area.

Pharmacies

• Bartell Drugs (0.4 miles)
• A&H Pharmaceutical Service (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.9 miles)
• Walgreens (5 miles)

Parks

• Johnson Pit #30, Earthworks Park (0.7 miles)
• Saltwater State Park (2.2 miles)
• Steel Lake Park (5.5 miles)
• French Lake Off-Leash Dog Park (6 miles)
• North SeaTac Park (6 miles)
• Ed Munro Seahurst Park (6.1 miles)
• Wilson Playfields (6.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Auntie Irene's Coffee Shop (1.3 miles)
• Denny's (2.3 miles)
• Sharps Roasthouse (2.4 miles)
• 13 Coins (2.7 miles)
• Seattle Taproom (2.8 miles)
• Azteca Mexican Restaurants (3.4 miles)
• Wendy's (3.5 miles)

Transportation

• Angle Lake Station (1.4 miles)
• International Arrivals Facility (2.6 miles)
• South Satellite (2.6 miles)
• Club at SEA (2.6 miles)
• Concourse A (2.6 miles)
• Concourse B (2.8 miles)
• Delta SkyClub A-B (2.8 miles)

Cafes

• Floret (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (6.1 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)
• Auburn Way Big Foot Java (7.5 miles)
• Starbucks (7.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Kent Station 14 (3.2 miles)
• Regal Auburn (7.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Holy Spirit Parish (3.3 miles)
• St Theresa's Church (7.8 miles)

Physicians

• Kosnoski Eye Care (4.3 miles)
• Three Tree Women's Clinic (4.4 miles)
• Northwest Foot And Ankle Center, PS (4.8 miles)
• Kent Eye Clinic (5 miles)
• King LASIK (5.4 miles)
• Valley Medical Center, Rehab Services Pt Ot Therapy (5.7 miles)
• Federal Way Dental (5.9 miles)

Hospitals

• St Francis Sleep Disorders Clinic (7.7 miles)
• St. Francis Hospital (7.7 miles)
• St Francis Hospital (7.7 miles)